Window frame structure



Aug. 2, 1955 Filed Jan. 28, 1948 G. D. PETERSON WINDOW FRAME STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN T 0R.

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WINDOW FRAME STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 28, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 K 7a H III/I'IIIIIIII JNVENTOR. 65km o 0. Pf M750/V ORA/FY United States Patent Otlice 2,714,431 Patented Aug. 2, 1955 WINDOW FRAME STRUCTURE Gerald D. Peterson, Detroit, Mich.

Original application January 28, 1948, Serial No. 4,794, now Patent No. 2,663,917, dated December 29, 1953. Divided and this application February 18, 1953, Serial No. 346,771

7 Claims. (Cl. 189-75) This invention relates to frames for windows, and particularly to a frame of the all-metal type which may be joined together by mullions which extend the frames to cover any desired length of opening and is a division of Serial No. 4,794, filed January 28, 1948, now Patent No. 2,663,917, granted Dec. 29, 1953.

As described hereinafter and as disclosed in the drawings, the window frame to which this invention relates is comprised of sections including a header, a sill and a pair of jambs. The said sections are so shaped that they can be interlocked at their adjoining ends and as a result rigidly held together by means of screws, only.

It has been the practice heretofore in the art to provide corner structures in a window frame which are substantially permanent. This is usually accomplished by welding, or by using separate corner elements or brackets secured in sorne special manner to the adjacent ends of the said sections. Such construction necessitates assembly of the frame at the factory and shipment thereof in the assembled form.

This invention contemplates a corner structure for a window frame obtained by suitable shaping of the frame sections, whereby these sections can be shipped in a relatively srnall bundle and then assembled easily and quickly at the site of their use by persons unskilled in the manufacture of window frames.

The'sections of the frame are so formed that they can be used to support one or two parallel closure panels permanently installed. Alternatively, said frame can support one or two parallel closure panels, temporarily installed, in addition to a horizontally slidable sash mounted inwardly of the temporary panels and parallel thereto.

Accordingly, the main objects of the invention are: to provide a window made of sections of a metal which are securable together to form the header, sill and jamb sections which are releasably secured together at the corners by screws; to provide a metal frame for a window having a corner structure whereby said frame can be shipped knocked-down and then assembled easily and quickly at the site of its use, by persons unskilled in the manufacture of window frames, to provide a window frame having header, sill and jarnb sections which are shaped to interlock at their adjoining ends whereby they can be rigidly held together with screws easily applied; and, .in general, to provide a trame for a window which is simple in construction, economical of manufacture and which may be mounted in extension of each other to fill any desired opening.

Other objects and features of novelty of the invention will be specifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, 'for a better understanding of the invention, to the following description taken in conjunction j with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

.Figure 1 is an elevational view from the exterior of two window .frames in mullion arrangement embodying features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken sectional view of theg` structure illustrated in Fig. l, taken on the line II-II thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. l, taken on the line III--III thereof;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. l, taken on the line IV-IV thereof;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1 within the circle 5 thereof when the sash is moved to completely open position;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional View of the structure illustrated -in Fig. l, taken on the line VI-VI thereof;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged exploded View of the header, muntin, sill and jamb sections of the window frame illustrated in Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. l, a window assembly of the present invention is illustrated, wherein a pair of frames is disposed in an opening, forming a mullion therebetween. Each frame comprises a header section 10, a sill section 11, jamb sections 12 and a mullion jamb section 13. Within each frame, fixed window panels 14 are supported in otiset relation with window sash assemblies 1S which may slide to the left or right in overlapping relation to the fixed panes 14, thereby having the window assemblies 15 move to open position.

Referring to Fig. 3, the header section 10 embodies a header bar having a web 17 having a downwardly extending portion 18 and an inwardly sloping web portion 19. A dovetailed recess 21 is located at the junction between the web 17 and portion 18. A downwardly projecting flange 22 is provided on the opposite end of the web from the portion 18, and a similar downwardly directed ange 23 extends from the end of the web 19. A dovetailed recess 24 is provided on the outer surface of the web 17 adjacent to the dovetailed slot 21. This latter dovetail 24 is employed to receive and Vbe secured by a head anchor 25 which is nailed or otherwise secured to the building structure 26. A dual-purpose inner header and `sill section 27 is joined to the web 17 of the header section 10 through the engagement of the dovetail 28 thereof in the dovetailed slot 21 of the portion 18. The inner header and sill section is of U shape having an outer web 29 and inner web 31 on the end of which the dovetail 28 mentioned above is provided. The webs 29 and 31 are joined by a base web 32 having downwardly presented spaced slots 33 and 34 therein. The web 29 extends downwardly at 35 below the base web 32.

The side jamb sections 12 of the frame (Figure 4) embody a channel section 36 having a laterally extending web 37 which is tlanged outwardly on the end at 38. A ridge 39 on the outer surface of the web 37 has an outwardly facing slot 41. The `web 37 is disposed laterally of a side web 42 of the channel element 36 having joined thereto the base web 43 of channel portion which is provided with a pair of spaced slots 44 and 45 which are aligned with the slots 33 and 34, respectively, of the inner header and sill section 27. An outer web 46 extends from the base web 43 of the channel portion parallel to the web 42 and is provided kwith an oiset portion 47 having `a slot 48 therein aligned with the slot 41 in the ridge 39 in the outer surface of the web 37. A flange 49 extends from the offset portion 47 of the web 46. A jarnb anchor 51 has a web portion 52 engaged in the slots 41 and 49 from which a web 53 extends in a `position to be secured to the frame elements of the building. By reversing the jamb section or the frame element 12 end for end, it may be applied to either the right or left-hand side of the window frame.

The web 46 is extended at 54 below the base web 43 and this web is notched out at the top, as at 55 to receive the web 29 (Figure 7) and extending ange 35 of the inner header and sill section 27. This forms the top corners of the frame which are held together by a pair of screws extending through apertures 56 and are threaded into a pair of apertures 57 in the web 42 of the channel portion 36 of the jamb section.

The sill section 11 comprises a sill bar having a web 58 (Figures 2 and 3) having on the end a downwardly extending ange 59 and inwardly therefrom a flange 61. A portion 62 extends upwardly from the web 58 and has an inwardly extending web 63 which slopes upwardly and which is provided with a track 64 and an upwardly extending lip 65 at the inner end. This lip collects the condensation from the Windows and permits it to flow down the slope of the web 63 outwardly of the frame. The trackway has a slotted portion 66 therein which permits apertures to be drilled therethrough to permit drainage, and any burrs that may be left in the hole need not be removed because of their location within the slot. The portion 62 of the section is provided with a pair of dovetailed slots 67 and 63 and a ridge 69 forms a dovetailed slot 71. VAn anchoring element engages the dovetailed slot 71 to anchor the sill in position in the building opening. A similar anchoring element 25 may also be utilized for engaging in the dovetailed slot 68 for anchoring the sill to the building structure. The inner header and sill section 27 is applied to the flange 58 of the sill bar through the engagement of the dovetail 28 in the dovetailed slot 67. The bottom portion of the inner header and sill section 27 is employed only across the iixed window assembly 14 at the sill and the end of the section mates in a notch 55 where it abuts the jarnb section 12. A pair of screws extends through the apertures 56 in the upwardly directed portion 62 of the section and is threaded into apertures 57 in the web 42 of the jamb of the section 12 for securing the sill section to the jarnb section at the corner to which the sill section 27 extends.

The opposite end of the section 27 at the corner of the sill abuts against a frame meeting rail 72 (Figures 4 and 7), the lower end of which has a laterally extending ange 73 cut away to provide a notch for receiving the end of the section 27. As illustrated in Fig. 3, similar screws are utilized for extending through apertures in the upwardly extending portion 62 on the sill section 11 and secured in threaded apertures on the inner face of the frame meeting rail 72. Spaced webs 74 of the section 72 have outwardly directed spaced slots 75 alignment with the slots 33 and 34 in the inner header and sill section 27 and with the slots 44 and 45 in the jamb section 12. The section 72 abuts against the web 17 of the header section 10 and is secured in position by screws extending through apertures in portion 18 into threaded apertures provided in the inner web 77 of the section. A'large dovetailed groove 78 is provided in the face of the web 77 for receiving a weatherstrip 79 which is retained in position thereby. Certain of the channel sections 36 of the jamb section 12 may be provided with dovetailed grooves for receiving a weatherstrip 79 which is retained in position thereby to abut the weatherstrip 94 when the movable sash is in closed position.

The ends of the frame jamb section 12 which engage the sill section 11 at the point adjacent to the area of the sliding window when closed, at which the sill section 27 is not utilized, are secured together by screws extending through apertures 56 in the upwardly extending portion 62 into the threaded apertures 57 in the web 42 of the jamb section. It will be noted in this arrangement that the notch is omitted because of the absence of the sill section 27 at this point.

The sliding window 15 (Figures 2 and 4) has a sliding sash 81 which embodies two like stiles 82, a top rail 83 and a bottom rail 84. The Stiles are of tubular form having outer side faces 85, inner webs 86, a glass supporting web 87 and an outer web 88. The glass supporting web 87 is provided with inwardlyA directed slots 89 and 91 which are spaced from each other, while the web 88 has an and 76 in ift extending flange 92 which projects beyond the web 87, The outer surface of the web 88 is provided with a dovetailed groove 93 for supporting and securely holding a sealing strip 94. The top rail 83 of the movable sash has a central web 95 with upwardly directed flanges 96 at each end, the outer surface of which is provided with projections containing dovetailed grooves 97 for. receiving the weatherstrip 94. A downwardly projecting flange 98 is provided in alignment with the flange 96 on the front face of the top rail.

The bottom rail 84 comprises a central web 99 having downwardly projecting wall portions 191 containing slots 102 for reducing the weight of the section. An upwardly extending fiange 103 is provided at the front of the bottom rail, aligned with the liange 98 of the top rail 83 and tiange 92 of the stiles 82. The ange 92 is cut away on the sash stiles 32 to provide notches for receiving the ends of the sash head and bottom rails to which they are secured by screws 194 extending through apertures in the web of the stile and threaded into apertures in the webs and 99 of the rails 83 and 84, respectively. In this manner the sash is securely held together at the four corners.

Rollers 197 have their stub shafts 198 extending through apertures in the webs 86 and 8S so as to be in alignment with the track 64 of the sill section 11. The screws 104 are disposed on each side of the roller to assist in maintaining the roller in alignment with the track.

A window pane 111 is mounted against the flange 73 of the frame meeting rail 72, the ange 35 on the inner header and sill section 27 and the flange 54 on the jamb section 12. The flanges above named are coplanar and directly receive the glass. The glass is forced against putty or other sealing material placed on the ilanges. Four glazing strips 112 form a coplanar retaining flange around the opening when inserted in the aligned slots in the inner header and sill section, in the frame meeting rail 72 and in the jamb section 12. Thereafter, four spring elements 113 are slipped in between the glass 111 and the strips 112 to urge the glass outwardly against the coplanar flanges. Spring tension in the strips retains the strips and glass in position. The window glass 114 is applied in the same manner to the window sash 15, the pane first being placed against the flange 92 of the Stiles and anges 98 and 103 on the top and bottom rails 83 and 84. Thereafter, glazing strips 112 are placed in one set of slots to be coplanar with the anges above mentioned against which the glass is placed, after which four of the spring strips 113 are added between the flanges 112 and the window glass 114 to hold the glass in position.

When it is desired to join two windows together, they are assembled in the same manner, with the exception that a frame mullion jamb 115 (Figure 4) replaces the standard frame jamb 12 in one of the windows. This mullion jamb has a channel section 116 having an outer web 117 and an inner web 113 joined by a base web 119 containing spaced slots 121. The web 117 at the end has an inwardly extending flange 122 and also an offset projecting iiange 123. The web 118 has a web 124 extending from the end inwardly at right angles therefrom, which has on its inner end an enlarged portion 125 provided with a slot 126 for receiving a strip 135 which overlaps the web 37 of the frame jarnb section 12. The flanges 122 and 123 mate with the flange 49 and web 46 of the frame jamb section 12 and prevent the section 116 from moving inwardly, while the engagement of the portion 127 of the enlarged portion 125 of the mullion section 13 prevents the section from moving outwardly. A leaf spring 128 is disposed between the web 124 and the flange 3S on the section 12 to urge the webs 124 and 37 away from each other but permitting them to move toward each other in case the metal of the frames expands. When the metal contracts, the spring maintains the engagernent of the web 37 with the strip 112.

While it is within the purview of this invention to use window panes .which extendrfromrthe top to thebottom..

ofthe' frame and' saslimuntins can be. employedtherebetween for using glass panes of shorter height.. Ai sec.- tion of the muntin isillustrated in Fig, 8 wherein the muntin is the shape of an" Hrhaving a central. web 13,0` and,

two parallel websv 131 disposed at right angles thereto andlin' T' relation therewith.4 Thisprovides arrupwardly and downwardly presented channel. on either side of the4 web 130 for` the reception ofthe bottom of the. top. pane of glass and the top will'be notedthat on the' outside of the window thefiange 131 is' cut away at the end of' 132.l for overlapping theprojecting flange92 on thesash-stile 85.A The-.muntinisu tions 1'32` overlap the` ange 54 on thejamb 12andthef flange 73` on the frame. meeting rail 72. Screws extend through the flanges 54 and. 73` into. theweb 130V for se curing the muntin to the window frame for. supporting-the fixed window panes.

It willrbe. noted inFigures land 2 that.the header bar of the header sectionV 10 and the sill bar ofthe sill section 'f 11 have substantially'Z-shaped: cross-sections. As stated hereinabove, the header Z-baris comprised of the web 17, the web 19and theportion or member 18 extending betweenthe-adjacent. lengthwise edges ofsaid webs-17d and 19 and substantially perpendicular thereto. The sill Z- bar is comprised of the web 58, the web 63, and a portion or member 62 extending between the adjacent lengthwise edges of said webs 58 and 63, and substantially perpendicular thereto. As shown, the Z-bars, when assembled in the frame, are positioned so that the webs 19 and 63 are opposed to each other and the webs 17 and 58 are opposed to each other, with the webs 19 and 63 being closer together than the webs 17 and 58.

Also, as described hereinabove and as disclosed in Figure 4, the jamb sections 12 have a channel section 36 comprised of a base 23b 43, a side web or leg 42 and an outer web or leg 46. A lateral web 37 extends from the free edge of the leg `42 and is substantially perpendicular thereto, as clearly shown in Figure 4. The leg 42 bears against and is secured to the portions or members 18 and 62 of the header bar and sill bar, respectively (Figures 3 and 8). Thus, the portions 18 and 62 are necessarily substantially co-planar, as shown.

Referring again to Fig. l, it will be noted that the lefthand and right-hand windows which go to make up the pair of windows joined by the mullion have the movable sash reversed, that is to say, the sash is on the left-hand side of the left-hand window and on the right-hand side of the right-hand window of the pair as viewed in the figure from the outside of the building. It should be understood that the movable sash 15 may be disposed on the left-hand or right-hand side of both of the windows, or both of the sashes could be placed adjacent to each other, the construction of the present window readily lending itself to such adaptation.

What is claimed is:

1. In a structure for effecting rigid and releasable engagement between the header, jambs and sill of an allmetal window frame capable of supporting parallel, overlapping fxed and movable closure panels, the combination comprising: a header having first and second offset, substantially parallel webs connected along adjacent edges by a rst member substantially perpendicular thereto; a sill having first and second offset, substantially parallel webs connected along adjacent edges by a second member substantially perpendicular thereto, said first and second members being co-planar and the faces of said first webs being parallel, opposed and spaced further from each other than said second webs, which are also opposed; a pair of jambs each having a jamb web and a of the bottom pane` o glass. It-` channelportion having an. inner leg. anda web, said',v j amb.

web. being substantially perpendicular to said leg; and. securedf thereto along the:` free edge thereof,l said leg bearing `against said members adjacent the ends thereof,.said

jamb-webs bearing against the ends of.` said second webs,`

and' said channel webs being closer together than said4 jamb webs` and bearing against said first websgand screws.

aiixing said legs to said members.

2`. In a structure for effecting rigid and releasable engagement between the header, jambs and sill of an allmetal window frame capable ofY supporting` simultaneously xed and movable closure parallel relationship,

panels in overlapping,`

second offset, substantially parallel webs: connected along adjacent, lengthwise edges by a header membersubstantiallyperpendicular to saidlwebs; a sillhavinga Z-shaped-l portion including first and second ofset substantially parallel webs connected along adjacent lengthwise edges,

by a sill member substantially perpendicular to said lastnamed webs, said sill and header members being, substantiallyy co-planar, andthe faces of said first and` second header webs being opposed, respectively, to the faces of.

said first and second sill webs, said first webs being spaced. further apart than saidr second webs; a pair of jambs havingidentical opposed portions each including a jamb-web and', a channel, member having inner and outer parallelA legsv and. a web said jamb web beingV substantially per pendicular to. said inner leg and secured thereto along` the free` edge thereof?,I said` inner leg bearing against. said members ofsaid sill and header adjacent the ends thereof, said jamb web bearing against the ends of said second webs and said channel webs being closer together than said jamb webs and bearing against said first Webs; and screws securing said inner legs to said members.

3. In a structure for effecting rigid and releasable engagement between the header jambs and sill of an allmetal window frame capable of supporting parallel, overlapping fixed and movable closure panels, the combination comprising: a header having first and second web portions, a first member extending downwardly substantially perpendicular to said rst web portions; a sill having first and second web portions, a second member extending upwardly substantially perpendicular to said first web portion, said first and second members being coplanar, said first webs being opposed and spaced further from each other than said second webs which are also opposed; a pair of jambs each including a channel portion having an inner leg and a web, said leg bearing in face-to-face contact against said members adjacent the ends thereof, the upper end of said jambs engaging the bottom surface of said header first web and the lower end of said jambs engaging the top surface of said sill first web; and means aflixing said legs to said members.

4. The structure of claim 3 including a header inner member extending along the lengthwise extent of said header, and engaging the bottom surface of said header first web and having a side surface in face-to-face contact with said first member, a sill inner member extending along the lengthwise extent of said sill and engaging the top surface of said sill first web and having a side surface in face-to-face contact with said second member, the webs of said channel portions of said jambs engaging the ends of said header inner member and said sill inner member.

5. In a structure for effecting rigid and releasable er1- gagement between the header, jambs and sill of an allmetal window frame capable of supporting parallel, overlapping fixed and movable closure panels, the combina` tion comprising: a header having first and second, substantially parallel webs connected along adjacent edges by a first member substantially perpendicular thereto; a sill having first and second offset, substantially parallel webs connected along adjacent edges by a second member substantially perpendicular thereto, said first and secthe combination comprising: a. header having a Z-shaped portion including first and 7 ond members being co-planar and the faces of said first webs being parallel, opposed and spaced further from each other than said second webs, which are also opposed; a pair of jambs each having a jamb web and a channel portion having an inner leg and a web, said jamb web being substantially perpendicular to said leg and secured thereto along the free edge thereof, said leg bearing in face-to-face contact against said members adjacent the ends thereof, said jamb webs positioned adjacent the ends of said second webs, and said channel webs being closer together than said jamb webs and bearing against said first webs; and means affixing said legs to said members.

6. In a structure for effecting rigid and releasable engagement between the header jambs and sill of an allmetal window frame capable of supporting parallel, overlapping fixed and movable closure panels, the combination comprising: a header having first and second web portions, a, first member extending downwardly from said first web portions; a sill having first and second web portions, a second member extending upwardly from said first web portion, said first and secondv members being coplanar, and extending substantially parallel to the plane of said closure panels, said first webs being opposed and spaced further from each other than said second webs which are also opposed; a pair of jambs each including 25 a channel portion having an inner leg and a web, said leg bearing in face-to-face contact against said members adjacent the ends thereof, the upper end of said jambs engaging the bottom surface of said header first web and the lower end of said jambs engaging the top surface of said sill first web; and means aixing said legs to said members.

7. In a structure for effecting rigid and releasable engagement between the header jambs and sill of an allmetal window frame capable of supporting parallel, overlapping fixed and movable closure panels, the combination comprising: a header having first and second web portions, a first member extending downwardly from said first web portions; a sill having first and second web portions, a second member extending upwardly from said first web portion, said first and second members being coplanar and extending substantially parallel to the plane of said closure panels, said first webs being opposed, said second webs also being opposed; a pair of jambs each including a channel portion having an inner leg and a web, said leg bearing in face-to-face contact against said members adjacent the ends thereof, the upper end of said jambs engaging the bottom surface of said header first web and the lower end of said jambs engaging the top surface of said sill first web; and means aixing said legs to said members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,190,263 Gerland Feb. 13, 1940 2,279,171 Lowry Apr. 7, 1942 2,589,729 Rates Mar. 18, 1952 

